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Graduate Degrees

Forestry - MNR, MS, PhD

Graduate study in forestry leads to the Master of Natural Resources (MNR), Master of Science (MS), or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. In addition to meeting Graduate School admission requirements, applicants are evaluated and recommended for admission by the graduate faculty of the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment based on their previous academic record, experience, and recommendations. TOEFL tests are required for international students. While exceptions may be made, the faculty generally expect a minimum GPA of 3.0 in previous academic course work. Course deficiencies are identified by the student’s advisory committee and approved by the GPO with due consideration for the student’s previous training and experience.

Degrees offered:

  • Master of Natural Resources – The MNR is a non-thesis degree (no research, courses only) and is offered online or as a combination of online and on-campus courses.

Natural Resource Management  is available for individuals with a baccalaureate degree who are interested in careers in the natural resources arena. This degree can be completed in 3-4 semesters depending upon coursework selected and requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate courses.

Professional Forester track is for individuals with baccalaureate degrees in fields other than forestry and those who are interested in becoming Registered Foresters in Alabama. This track is a two-year program which begins with a 10 week summer Field Practicum and requires a minimum of 64 semester hours (34 hours of specified undergraduate course work plus 30 hours of graduate course work).

The MNR Professional Forester degree program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF). SAF is the accrediting body recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation as the accrediting agency for forestry education in the United States. Graduation from such SAF-accredited programs is required of all applicants for Registered Forester status in Alabama and several other states.

Requirements for the MNR degree include 30 semester hours at the 6000-8999 level.

  • Master of Science (MS) A research proposal and thesis based on original research are major components of the MS degree. The program normally requires 2 – 3 years for completion, and can be tailored for students with interests in forest management, ecology and environmental sciences, economics, engineering, or business. The MS degree program requires a minimum of 30 hours beyond the bachelor degree at the graduate level, 21 hours of which must be in the major. A minimum of 4 but not more than 6 hours in Research and Thesis (FORY 7990) is required. All MS students are required to take Research Methods (FORY 7510) and Seminar (FOWS 7950).
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) may be tailored for any of the topical areas listed under the M.S. A research proposal and dissertation based on original research are required as major components of the PhD degree program. The degree requires 60 semester hours beyond the bachelor degree. There must be a minimum of 30 semester hours in graded coursework at the 7000-level or above. Of the remaining 30 semester hours, 10 hours must be Research and Dissertation (FORY 8990) and 20 hours of 6000-level or above. While some of these 60 hours can be from previous graduate work, such as a MS degree, a minimum of 25 hours of graded coursework at the 6000-level or above must be completed at Auburn. All PhD students are required to take Research Methods ( FORY 7510) and Seminar (FOWS 7950). Oral and written preliminary exams are required for advancement to candidacy; The preliminary exams must be completed no less than two academic terms prior to graduation. The written and oral preliminary examinations for PhD students will normally consist of questions from each committee member regarding technical competency and other related issues.

An urban forestry minor, administered in cooperation with the Department of Horticulture, is available for MNRMS, and PhD degrees.

Additional resources:

Natural Resources - MNR, MS

Graduate study in natural resources leads to the Master of Natural Resources (MNR), or Master of Science (MS) degrees. In addition to meeting Graduate School admission requirements, applicants are evaluated and recommended for admission by the graduate faculty of the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment based on their previous academic record, experience, and recommendations. TOEFL tests are required for international students. While exceptions may be made, the faculty generally expect a minimum GPA of 3.0 in previous academic course work. Course deficiencies are identified by the student’s advisory committee and approved by the GPO with due consideration for the student’s previous training and experience.

Degrees offered:

  • Master of Natural Resources – The MNR is a non-thesis degree (no research, courses only) and is offered online or as a combination of online and on-campus courses.

Natural Resource Management is available for individuals with a baccalaureate degree who are interested in the natural resources arena. This degree can be completed in 3-4 semesters depending upon coursework selected and requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate courses.

Professional Forester option for individuals with baccalaureate degrees in fields other than forestry and who are interested in becoming Registered Foresters in Alabama. This option is a two-year program which begins with a 10 week summer Field Practicum and requires a minimum of 70 semester hours (34 hours of specified undergraduate course work plus 36 hours of graduate course work).

Requirements for the MNR degree include 30 semester hours at the 6000 – 8999 level.

  • Master of Science (MS) A research proposal and thesis based on original research are major components of the MS degree. The program normally requires 2 – 3 years for completion. The MS degree program requires a minimum of 30 hours beyond the bachelor degree at the graduate level, 21 hours of which must be in the major. A minimum of 4 but not more than 6 hours in Research and Thesis (FORY 7990) is required. All MS students are required to take Research Methods (FORY 7510), Seminar (FOWS 7950), and Research and Thesis (FORY 7990).

Additional resources:

Wildlife Sciences - MS, PhD

Wildlife Sciences graduate programs are available for both MS and PhD degrees. Admission requirements parallel those for Forestry graduate programs. In addition to meeting Graduate School admission requirements, applicants are evaluated and recommended for admission by the graduate faculty of the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment based on their previous academic record, experience, and recommendations. TOEFL tests are required for international students. While exceptions may be made, the faculty generally expect a minimum GPA of 3.0 in previous academic course work.

Degrees offered:

  • Master of Science (MS) which requires a minimum of 30 hours beyond the bachelor degree at the graduate level, 21 hours of which must be in the major. A minimum of 4 but not more than 6 hours in Research and Thesis (WILD 7990) is required. All MS students are required to take Research Methods (FORY 7510) and Graduate Seminar (WILD 7950). A research proposal and thesis based on original research are major components of the MS degree.
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree requires 60 semester hours beyond the bachelor degree. There must be a minimum of 30 semester hours in graded coursework at the 7000-level or above. Of the remaining 30 semester hours, 10 hours must be Research and Dissertation (WILD 8990) and 20 hours of 6000-level or above. While some these 60 hours can be from previous graduate work, such as a MS degree, a minimum of 18 hours of graded coursework at the 6000-level or above must be completed at Auburn. All PhD students are required to take Research Methods (FORY 7510) and Graduate Seminar (WILD 7950). A research proposal and dissertation based on original research are required as major components of the PhD degree program. Oral and written preliminary exams are required for advancement to candidacy and must be completed no less than two academic terms prior to graduation.  The written and oral preliminary examinations for PhD students will normally consist of questions from each committee member regarding technical competency and other related issues.

Additional resources:

Applied Economics - PhD

PhD in Applied Economics is administered jointly by the Department of Economics, the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, and the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment. Forestry students in this program will take core courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics in the Department of Economics and pass written preliminary exams given there.  An additional oral examination is required in the SFWS for admission to candidacy.  The minimum number of hours in this doctoral program is 60 semester hours earned through instruction beyond the bachelor’s degree, including 1) a minimum of 30 semester hours graded (e.g. A, B) graduate course work (7000-level and above); and 2) a minimum of 30 semester hours of additional graduate course work (6000-level and above) that may include ungraded courses, 7990 and 8990 and must include at least 10 hours of 8990.  As with all other PhD students in the SFWS, students are required to take Research Methods (FORY 7510) and Seminar (FOWS 7950). Dissertation work under this degree program generally involves in-depth economic analysis of a forestry/natural resources/environment issue or problem.

Additional resources:

Earth Systems Science - PhD

The interdisciplinary graduate PhD degree program in Earth System Science is based on the integration of scientific disciplines from five participating colleges and 10 academic departments at Auburn University, providing for a curriculum of unusual richness and breadth. The earth system science involves the linkage of the physical, chemical, and biological, and social sciences to the understanding the interaction of Earth-system processes and humans. Our program offers an effective way to train the next-generation professionals in the areas of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Affiliated colleges and programs include the Colleges of Science and Mathematics, Agriculture, Engineering and Liberal Arts and the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment and the International Center for Climate and Global Change Research.

This PhD program, due to its interdisciplinary nature, has specific course requirements as below:

Course Requirements: The interdisciplinary PhD degree, without previous graduate course work, requires successful completion of a minimum of 60 semester credit hours at the graduate level (6000-8000 level).  The total 60 hours must include: 1) 7 hours of required core courses across earth system science disciplines, 2) a maximum of 10 hours of dissertation credit, and 3) additional elective course work to develop an academic focus with the approval of the faculty adviser and dissertation committee.  Click here for recommended elective courses for students interested in a particular career path. The maximum number of directed-study credits that may be applied toward the degree is three (3) units. The total number of credit hours of previous graduate course or thesis work may be transferred toward the PhD degree must be less than 50 percent of the credit hours listed on the Plan of Study. A maximum of four hours of Master thesis credit may be transferred and counted toward PhD course requirement. Required core courses (7 hours) include:

1) Earth System Science and Global Change (3 hours)

2) Earth System Observation and Analysis (3 hours)

3) Earth System Science Seminar (1 hour)

Additional resources:

For immediate questions about our graduate programs or for assistance in identifying a potential advisor or financial aid opportunities, please contact the Graduate Student Services office.